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Saturday, December 30, 2017

LOS ANGELES -December 30, 2017 - High-income earners who reside in high-income tax states, help is on the way.

We are offering you an alternative to permanently reduce your taxes by $100k or more within 1 year. This methodology was created over the past decade and has been used by many of the wealthiest people on earth, including President Trump.

This training will show you how to eliminate your tax liability by $100K or more in one year just by implementing three (3) easy steps. We have proven that once you implement these three steps you will be protected from any adverse changes as a result of tax reform.

One recent customer shared the following….“I had no idea that I could reduce my taxes by utilizing the tax code. In the past, my CPA’s had advised me just to make less money or buy a larger house. Now, I have found ways to not only reduce my taxes but to also replace my high taxable income with lower taxed income.

Hosted by Gena Lofton, the Founder of A2A. A2A stands for Accredited2Accredited, which is a Los Angeles Based edutainment company which helps the global investing community work less, make more money and pay less in taxes. Having grown up homeless and in foster care in South Central Los Angeles, Gena escaped and learned the secrets of the wealthy, one of which is related to Taxes. Today, she uses the tax code to build wealth and helps others do the same with A2A. Gena resides in the highest taxed state in the union, California, and uses the tax code, in the same manner, thus pays very little in taxes.

In addition to leading A2A, Gena is an active investor across all asset classes, including real estate, oil, and gas, media and entertainment, natural resources and mining. As an author and speaker, she contributes as an industry expert across the globe. Gena’s corporate career is expansive, including but not limited to, a member of the management team of the largest pay television service in the world, DIRECTV until the sale to ATT, prior to DIRECTV, she lead a successful career, at Ernst & Young, LLP.

The training is now open for registration. SPACE IS LIMITED TO 250 PEOPLE. SO ENROLL EARLY HERE

Kevin Surbaugh no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.
--- go ahead share your thoughts with me now, my ears are open. I'm always eager to hear what you think.

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Newswire DALLAS, TX - StealthCryptoTM is launching the world’s largest decentralized, community-distributed, telecommunications network in less than 48 hours. The much-anticipated ICO opens pre-token sales at midnight on December 28, 2017, and is expected to sell out rapidly due to the fluctuation of the cryptocurrency market. Sharky Ashmore, CEO of BTC Media Group, states, “The bitcoin has so much movement that investors are looking for a stable, investment-grade place and StealthCryptoTM is as stable and profitable as we have seen in the past six months.” The smartphone features include full privacy with hard kill switches and a built-in privacy control center whereby the user is always in total control.

Larry Castro, CEO of StealthCryptoTM, says, “One of the most impressive features of the phone is the wallet which allows various currencies and the privacy app included on the StealthCryptoTM page ensures approval from the user with IBE and split encryption authentication integration.” The StealthCrypto CloudTM NAS (Network-Attached System) is fully decentralized with files distributed and stored all over the world on multiple containers. The network is robust to attacks and therefore has no central point of weakness.
The genius of the StealthCrypto CloudTM is the fact that NAS has an embedded Wi-Fi router container that connects to peer-to-peer cloud storage, telecommunications, communications, IoT (Internet of Things) connections and mining and is powered by a decentralized StealthCryptoTM incentive-based, Quantum meshed network. The integrated StealthCryptoTM MESH network delivers Quantum Entropy with quantum key generation and distribution. StealthCryptoTM has taken every step to ensure privacy and the pre-order list for phones are in the tens of thousands due to smartphone users’ need for privacy in their day-to-day lives.About Stealth Grid™
StealthCrypto™ provides a proprietary, quantum secure blockchain solution, utilizing a multi-layer approach on the endpoints, dynamic split encryption, and Dynamic GeoDistribution™, eliminating the setup and management challenges associated with certificate-based solutions. StealthCrypto™ can be scaled to levels required for massive deployment characteristic of the Internet of Things and Blockchain and protect billions of devices and transactions with ease.
The StealthCrypto™ ecosystem provides products based on quantum secure blockchain technology for cloud storage, data protection, email, instant messaging, video conferencing, voice calls, mobile, AI cybersecurity and the StealthCrypto™ smartphone, all on its quantum mesh network and its Qubit Blockchain™.
All cryptocurrencies depend upon elliptic curve public-key cryptography (ECDSA) to generate digital signatures which allow transactions to be verified securely. The most commonly used signature schemes are ECDSA, DSA, and RSA. All these schemes are theoretically vulnerable to quantum computing attacks. Qubit Blockchain is being developed to be quantum computer-resistant and to provide transactions speeds untouchable by other blockchains.

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

BusinessWireWASHINGTON--Millions of shoppers will flock to the stores looking for last minute gifts, but before you pull out your credit cards, GEICO offers these last-minute reminders to safeguard your personal information over the holidays and into 2018.Beware of data security incident– Every time you use your credit or debit card with retailers, you leave behind a trail of valuable information that is susceptible to a data security incident. Protect your identity by using alternative forms of payment (cash, traveler's checks, prepaid cards) that aren't connected to your personal information.Prepaid is the way – A prepaid Visa credit card acts just like a credit or debit card and also goes a long way to protect your personal information from thieves and data incidents. And just like a credit or debit card, if your prepaid card is ever lost or stolen, you can recover your money.Be careful what you sign up for – Steer clear of in-store and online promotions that promise you a discount on your purchased items if you fork over personal information. Most retailers sell your information to the highest bidder (marketing companies) who then create a profile about your buying habits and solicit you with things they think you might want to purchase.Free Wi-Fi comes with a price – Believe it or not, free public Wi-Fi comes with a very big security risk. Never connect to your bank, credit card or other sensitive accounts over public Wi-Fi. The open nature of public Wi-Fi allows hackers a direct line into any unsecured personal information that may be stored on your laptop or mobile device. Disabling the Wi-Fi function will prevent it from connecting to a public Wi-Fi signal automatically.Close your banking and credit card apps – If someone hacks into your laptop or mobile device while your apps are open, they may be able to gain access to any open information. Make sure to close all of your banking and financial apps after each use. Keep in mind that some apps will automatically log you off, but only after a certain period of inactivity.

Monday, December 25, 2017

TUCSON, Ariz. - Knowing that cryptocurrency is an up and coming form of payment, GMLCPA believes that this is a necessary addition to ensure that their client’s needs are being met. The firm sees cryptocurrency as not a fad, but an opportunity to grow. Several companies, like Overstock.com, have started accepting bitcoin and expanded their service market to reach all over the world. In the past, service markets were limited to the access to banks and other financial agencies, and with cryptocurrency, this restriction is eliminated. All that is needed to complete a bitcoin payment is a connection to the internet.

Accounting for and taxation of these transactions will be part of a normal CPA practice in the coming years; they are happy to take on this new adventure. Keeping with her firm’s culture, Luoma believes “accepting bitcoin as a form of payment is our way of adhering to our company culture of learning and innovating. Cryptocurrency is, and will be part of the future of all business transactions.”

Friday, December 15, 2017

ORLANDO, Fla., -- Tupperware Brands Corporation (NYSE: TUP) and Youngevity International, Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI) today announced they have reached an agreement whereby Tupperware Brands will sell Beauticontrol assets to Youngevity, a leading omni-direct lifestyle company. As part of the deal, Youngevity will integrate Beauticontrol's sales force into its company, marketing Beauticontrol branded products, as well as the other brands in Youngevity's extensive product portfolio. Youngevity will also market Beauticontrol branded products to its existing member base. Tupperware will earn a royalty based on future sales of the Beauticontrol sales force, and sales of the Beauticontrol product line by the existing Youngevity members.

"We couldn't be more pleased to reach this agreement with Youngevity. We feel Youngevity's 20-year history and impressive track record make them the ideal company to welcome Beauticontrol into its family of brands. The agreement will allow Beauticontrol's sales force to again be able to purchase many of the products that they and their customers love. As part of Youngevity, the Beauticontrol product line will have an even wider audience through its existing members and by joining Youngevity, the Beauticontrol sales force members will be able to enjoy a terrific direct selling earning opportunity. While likely to be modest in any particular year, monetizing these Beauticontrol assets is a win for Tupperware Brand's shareholders," said Rick Goings, Chairman, and CEO of Tupperware Brands.
"We're thrilled and proud to enter into an agreement with Tupperware who has built an iconic and impressive global brand and company. We look forward to welcoming the sales force of Beauticontrol and expanding the innovative product development that Beauticontrol has become known for over the last 27 years," said Steve Wallach, CEO, and Chairman of Youngevity.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC served as exclusive financial advisor and Sidley Austin LLP served as legal advisor to Tupperware Brands.About Tupperware Brands Corporation
Tupperware Brands Corporation (NYSE: TUP), through an independent sales force of 3.2 million, is the leading global marketer of innovative, premium products across multiple brands utilizing social selling. Product brands and categories include design-centric preparation, storage and serving solutions for the kitchen and home through the Tupperware brand and beauty and personal care products through the Avroy Shlain, Fuller Cosmetics, NaturCare, Nutrimetics, and Nuvo brands.About Youngevity International, Inc.

Youngevity International, Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI ), is a leading omni-direct lifestyle company -- offering a hybrid of the direct selling business model, that also offers e-commerce and the power of social selling. Assembling a virtual Main Street of products and services under one corporate entity, Youngevity offers products from the six top-selling retail categories: health/nutrition, home/family, food/beverage (including coffee), spa/beauty, apparel/jewelry, as well as innovative services. The Company was formed in the course of the summer 2011 merger of Youngevity Essential Life Sciences with Javalution® Coffee Company (now part of the company's food and beverage division). The resulting company became Youngevity International, Inc. in July 2013. For general information on products and services, please visit us at youngevity.com. Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Tupperware Brand's stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: TUP). Statements contained in this release, which are not historical fact and use predictive words such as "estimates", "outlook", "guidance", "expects", "target" or "will" are forward looking statements. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that include the integration of Beauticontrol's sales force into Youngevity's system, recruiting and activity of Beauticontrol's and Youngevity's independent sales force and members relating to governmental actions and otherwise, the success of new product introductions and promotional programs, governmental approvals of materials for use in beauty and personal care products, the effects of economic and political conditions and other risks detailed in the Company's periodic reports as filed in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

SOURCE Tupperware Brands Corporation

Disclaimer: Kevin Surbaugh is an independent sales representative of Youngevity.

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Business WireGreenwhich, Conn. - Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (NASDAQ GS:IBKR), a global electronic brokerage
firm, began offering clients the ability to trade bitcoin futures at the
start of trading on the Cboe Futures Exchange (CFE) on Sunday night,
December 10th, 2017. In addition to offering bitcoin futures
from the CFE, under the ticker symbol GXBT, the company plans to offer
bitcoin futures from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) at the
scheduled start of trading December 18th using the symbol
BRR. IBKR was there at the start of trading and its systems operated
normally.

“Interactive Brokers was on the buy side of the low print of 14,710,”
said Thomas Peterffy, founder, Chairman and CEO of Interactive Brokers.
“A Registered Investment Advisor on the Interactive Brokers platform
purchased two March contracts in the first minute of trading.”
As of 9:15am ET on Monday, the company said that 201 of its accounts had
placed 1,240 trades in bitcoin futures totaling 1,429 contracts
representing approximately 50% of exchange recorded volume. The recorded
value of all futures trades at Cboe exceeds $50 million.
The all-in commission rate, including exchange and regulatory fees, for
bitcoin futures will be US $5.01 per contract for the Cboe product and
US $15.01 per contract for the CME product. The CFE contract size is for
one bitcoin, and the CME contract size is for five bitcoins. Old and new
clients can learn more about trading bitcoin futures with IBKR and sign
up for “Crypto” trading permission here.
Due to the extreme volatility of cryptocurrencies, clients will be
unable to assume a short position. In addition, only limit orders will
be accepted. IBKR’s margin requirement on long positions will be at
least 50%. The company will continue to monitor concerns surrounding the
market's ability to process bitcoin futures risk.
Clients can subscribe to live quotes for both Cboe and CME bitcoin
futures.

Las Vegas, NV - Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today celebrates the opening of Tru by Hilton Las Vegas Airport, marking a number of milestones for the brand including its eighth U.S. hotel, its largest location, and its westernmost property to-date. Managed by Dallas-based Prism Hotels & Resorts, Tru by Hilton Las Vegas Airport is located less than three miles from the Vegas Strip, offering access to some of the country’s most exciting restaurants and tourist attractions. With more than 470 hotels in various stages of development, Tru by Hilton has achieved the fastest-growing pipeline in the history of the hospitality industry.
“Tru by Hilton is a true pioneer in the midscale segment and the very first to meet the needs of a previously underserved group of travelers who seek simplicity and value without compromising quality and design,” said Alexandra Jaritz, global head, Tru by Hilton. “We’re incredibly excited to continue our western expansion with Tru by Hilton Las Vegas Airport. This property opening is a testament to our robust pipeline, and we look forward to continuing this momentum heading into 2018.”
Owned by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, the six-floor, 166-room Tru by Hilton Las Vegas Airport is the largest Tru by Hilton hotel property to-date. Located at 6862 Gilespie Street, next to the McCarran International Airport, the hotel offers a 24-hour complimentary shuttle that includes stops at the airport and the Strip. Guests can enjoy a comfortable, spirited and affordable hotel experience with easy access to everything Las Vegas has to offer.
The hotel is also located steps from the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) International Training Center (ITC), an incredible, state-of-the-art facility spanning more than one million square feet, also managed by Prism Hotels & Resorts.
“Tru by Hilton perfectly meets the needs of those coming for training at our facility, as well as travelers looking for something that has such an innovative product offering and design,” says Justin Weidner, Chief of Staff, United Brotherhood of Carpenters.
“Managing our new Tru by Hilton property, as well as the training facility for the UBC, has been an honor for Prism and an exciting opportunity to show our unmatched hospitality expertise as best-in-class operators,” said Steve Van, president, and CEO, Prism Hotels & Resorts.
Developed from the ground up using consumer and owner feedback, and brought to market in just 16 months from when it launched at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS), Tru by Hilton is a brand-new hotel experience that is vibrant, affordable and young-at-heart. It is energetic, but it is relaxing and comfortable. It is familiar, and it is also unexpected. It is uniquely Tru.
Tru by Hilton thinks differently and is a game changer in the midscale segment, offering the following features:

All new-build hotels, which drive the consistency of experience for our guests.

Reimagined, enlarged lobby with more square feet of public space with areas to work, play games, eat or lounge.

Breakfast reinvented with a build-your-own complimentary "Top It" breakfast bar that has 30 sweet and savory toppings so guests can create their own healthy or indulgent morning masterpieces.

Rooms are smaller and more efficiently designed with comfortable beds and 55" TVs. Bright bathrooms feature spacious showers, along with premium bath amenities.

National and local brand gourmet snacks and drinks are available 24/7 in the "Eat. & Sip." market located in the heart of the lobby.

Business Wire
Medica today announced it has added Children’s Mercy to its network for
the Select by MedicaSM plan. Select by Medica is available to
Kansas residents who live in Johnson or Wyandotte counties. Enrollment
in the plan is available on the Kansas Health Insurance Marketplace (HealthCare.gov)
for coverage on or after January 1, 2018.

Children’s Mercy features a staff of more than 750 pediatric specialists
in 40 pediatric specialties. It was the first hospital in Kansas or
Missouri to receive Magnet designation in 2003 from the American Nurses
Credentialing Center for superior nursing quality. Only 7 percent of
U.S. hospitals receive the designation. It is affiliated with the
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine and is the
principal teaching hospital for the University of Kansas Medical Center.
Medica will add Children’s Mercy to its online directory of in-network
providers in the next few weeks.
“We are delighted to add Children’s Mercy to our Select by Medica
network,” said Geoff Bartsh, Medica vice president for individual and
family business. “Children's Mercy, which consistently is ranked among
the leading children's hospitals in the nation, represents the quality
innovative care our members expect and deserve.”
In addition to Children’s Mercy, members with Select by Medica coverage
can receive care from providers in the Saint Luke’s Health System.
Select by Medica is just one of two product options available to
individuals and families in Kansas from Medica in 2018. Medica Connect
is offered in the other 103 counties in Kansas.

Monday, December 11, 2017

Business WireMinnetonka, MN - About 24,000 people in the Midwest are now enrolled in $0 premium Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans for 2018. Most of these people live in Iowa and Nebraska, where Medica is the sole insurer. The ACA open enrollment period runs through December 15.

As of November 24, about 5,000 Iowans are covered in plans that will
have no premium cost. And in Nebraska, about 17,000 people will have no
premium costs. About 25 – 30 percent of enrollees in those states so far
have qualified for $0 premium plans. In Kansas, slightly more than 1,200
people, about 15 percent of those enrolled, qualified for $0 premium
coverage. The remaining enrollees with $0 premium plans are in
Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota.
The $0 premium plans are based on an enrollee’s eligibility for premium
tax credits, which are available only through the federal Health
Insurance Marketplace (www.healthcare.gov).
In general, the $0 premium plans are bronze metal level plans. To
receive any assistance, individuals must create or update their accounts
at HealthCare.gov. The Health Insurance Marketplace determines actual
savings available.
“We recognize that 2018 is a very challenging year for people who
purchase health insurance on their own and that premiums are very high,”
said Geoff Bartsh. “It is important to remember that many consumers will
be able to obtain health coverage at significant price reductions
through premium tax credits. This is the last week of the open
enrollment period and we can’t encourage people strongly enough to shop
on healthcare.gov to learn what discounts may apply to them.”

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Business WireSeattle, WA - (NASDAQ: AMZN) — Amazon Music today announces “The U2 Experience”: a first-of-its-kind broadcast for Amazon Music designed with the voice experience in mind. Launching simultaneously across multiple time zones on November 29 at 6pm EST, “The U2 Experience” is a new type of radio, filled with historical and new exclusive content produced by Amazon Music and available to U2 fans who tune in from the U.S., UK, Germany, and Austria, ending just before the release of the band’s upcoming album, Songs of Experience, on December 1. Only available during its one-time broadcast and exclusively on Amazon Music, “The U2 Experience” will be available at www.amazon.com/theu2experience and on the Amazon Music mobile app and Web Player for iOS, Android, Mac, and PC. In a new way of listening, the broadcast will also be available to all Prime members and Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers in the U.S. and UK through Alexa, on Amazon Echo devices, simply by asking, “Alexa, play The U2 Experience.”

“I hope you don’t need to know anything about U2, or anything about the context, to enjoy [Songs of Experience],” says U2 guitarist, The Edge. “I think it’s an album of just classic songs, great melodies great hooks, great lyrics. I think there’s very few bands in the history of rock and roll that have been around and made as many albums as we have with the same lineup…that perspective is unique, you know? On the last record [Songs of Innocence] we wrote about where we came from. How this band came together, Dublin of the late 70s early 80s, and this new record is the companion album. But it’s from this current perspective now... So many years later, what have we learned?”

For a limited time, fans will be able to drop into the broadcast and begin listening wherever the unique audio is currently in progress. “The U2 Experience” features a chronology of the band’s career, including commentary surrounding the significance behind iconic songs and legendary stories from the road, as told through live broadcast interviews with the band spanning nearly 40 years. Also included are some of the legendary rock group’s biggest hits, and live recordings of songs from The Joshua Tree and Songs of Experience, recorded during The Joshua Tree Tour 2017. The immersive audio show also includes a new and exclusive interview with U2 and Amazon Music’s global head of programming, Alex Luke, which took place during a stop in Sao Paolo, Brazil on tour this Fall.

“Few bands have as storied a career as U2, and we saw an incredible opportunity to build a broadcast for their fans," said Luke. "This all goes back to voice innovation, and what we've built is an immersive, ephemeral listening experience for our customers, with a wealth of interviews and content going back nearly 40 years.”

In a brand-new format for Alexa, Amazon’s cloud-based voice service, Prime members and Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers in the U.S. and UK can simply ask, “Alexa, play The U2 Experience,” and will immediately be dropped into the broadcast, wherever the unique audio session is currently in progress. “The U2 Experience” is available to listen on the mobile app and Web Player in the U.S., UK, Germany, and Austria, to all customers with an Amazon Music account, with or without an Amazon Prime membership or Amazon Music Unlimited subscription, available only before the launch of U2’s new album, Songs of Experience, on December 1. Immediately following the show, the band’s new album, Songs of Experience, will be available to purchase on Amazon Music and stream for Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers.
“The U2 Experience” is the latest feature to launch within Amazon Music’s personalized natural language voice controls powered by Alexa, which has reimagined how customers experience music. When paired with Alexa, customers can ask for music by lyrics, mood, genre, era, and activities, simply by voice. Learn more about Amazon Music by visiting: www.amazon.com/music.Start Times for “The U2 Experience”:

UK: Wednesday, 29 November 23:00

U.S.: Wednesday, 29 November 18:00 EST / 15:00 PST

Germany/Austria: Thursday, 30 November, 12:00am

From “The U2 Experience”:Interview with Bono, 2017:

“Songs of Experience is kind of a rhyme. Your worldview when you’re 17 or 18, contrasted with where you are now. I was very strict, very black and white, with the way I saw the world, whereas now I’m not. I see it in very different terms. When I was a kid – I saw the world as us and them. I think Edge was the same. But now I realize that the biggest obstacles you come up against in your life are probably not what you thought they were. It’s probably you.” - Bono

Interview with The Edge, 1987:

“‘Bullet the Blue Sky’ is a great example of why I love being in a band, as opposed to trying to be a solo artist. And it’s because when Adam [Clayton] started playing that bass part… it is something I never, ever would have come up with in a million years. I think it is his greatest-ever bass part. He changed that piece of music, utterly, and made it what it is. The bass is of something totally different and unique.” – The Edge

Interview with Adam Clayton, 1981:

“I suspect we’ve always had this sound. We’ve always been U2. And you know, U2 is a thing that evolves constantly. And maybe a year from now, the sound will be slightly different from the sound on Boy. It’s impossible to tell because it’s a natural evolvement, all the time.”- Adam Clayton

About Amazon Music
Amazon Music is the destination for customers to have the most choice in how to access and listen to all their favorite music. In addition to streaming with Amazon Music Unlimited (standalone, on-demand music streaming service) and Amazon Prime Music (included in Prime memberships), where available, Amazon Music offers a wide selection of CD and Vinyl, including AutoRip on more than a hundred thousand albums, and tens of millions of MP3 songs to purchase and own. For more information on Amazon Music visit www.amazon.com/amazonmusic and follow @AmazonMusic.About Amazon
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Business WireATLANTA & MINNEAPOLIS - Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. (“ARG”) and Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc. (Nasdaq: BWLD) (“BWW”) today announced that the companies have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which ARG will acquire BWLD for $157 per share in cash, in a transaction valued at approximately $2.9 billion, including BWW’s net debt. The agreement, which has been unanimously approved by both companies’ Boards of Directors, represents a premium of approximately 38% to BWW’s 30-day volume-weighted average stock price as of November 13, 2017, the latest trading day prior to news reports speculating about a potential transactionStatement by Paul Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc.

"Buffalo Wild Wings is one of the most distinctive and successful entertainment and casual dining restaurant companies in America,” said Paul Brown, CEO of Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. “We are excited to welcome a brand with such a rich heritage, led by an exceptionally talented team. We look forward to leveraging the combined strengths of both organizations into a truly differentiated and transformative multi-brand restaurant company.”Statement by Sally Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc.

“We are excited about this merger and confident Arby’s represents an excellent partner for Buffalo Wild Wings,” said Sally Smith, CEO of Buffalo Wild Wings. “This transaction provides compelling value to our shareholders and is a testament to the hard work and efforts of our talented Team Members and franchisees. We are confident that the strength of our two industry-leading brands, under the sponsorship of Roark Capital – an experienced restaurant and food service investor – will enable us to capitalize on significant growth opportunities in the years ahead.”

Transaction Details
The transaction is not subject to a financing condition and is expected to close during the first quarter of 2018, subject to the approval of BWW shareholders and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including applicable regulatory approvals.
Following the close of the transaction, BWW will be a privately-held subsidiary of Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. and will continue to be operated as an independent brand. Paul Brown will serve as Chief Executive Officer of the parent company.
Arby’s is majority owned by affiliates of Roark Capital Group (Roark), an Atlanta based private equity firm that focuses on investing in franchised and multi-unit businesses in the restaurant, retail, and other consumer sectors. Affiliates of Roark are committing all of the equity that, together with the proceeds of debt financing, will be necessary to complete the transaction.
Certain funds advised by Marcato Capital Management, LP, which own approximately 6.4% of the outstanding shares of BWW, have entered into an agreement to vote in favor of the transaction.Advisors
Barclays is serving as financial advisor and White & Case LLP is serving as legal counsel to ARG. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is serving as financial advisor and Faegre Baker Daniels LLP is serving as legal counsel to BWW.About Buffalo Wild Wings
Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc., founded in 1982 and headquartered in Minneapolis, is a growing owner, operator, and franchisor of Buffalo Wild Wings® restaurants featuring a variety of boldly-flavored, made-to-order menu items including its namesake Buffalo, New York-style chicken wings. The Buffalo Wild Wings menu specializes in 21 mouth-watering signature sauces and seasonings with flavor sensations ranging from Sweet BBQ™ to Blazin’®. Guests enjoy a welcoming neighborhood atmosphere that includes an extensive multi-media system for watching their favorite sporting events. Buffalo Wild Wings is the recipient of hundreds of "Best Wings" and "Best Sports Bar" awards from across the country. There are currently more than 1,250 Buffalo Wild Wings locations in 10 countries. For more information, visit BuffaloWildWings.comAbout Roark Capital Group
Roark focuses on investing in franchised and multi-unit businesses in the retail, restaurant, consumer and business services sectors. Since inception, affiliates of Roark have invested in 62 franchise/multi-unit brands, which collectively generate $27 billion in annual system revenues from 29,000 locations in 50 states and 78 countries. For more information, please visit www.roarkcapital.com

Friday, November 24, 2017

Press ReleaseSeattle, WA - (NASDAQ: AMZN) – On Friday, Amazon revealed a preview of its Cyber Monday deals to close out the “Turkey 5” – those five popular shopping days starting Thanksgiving and continuing through Cyber Monday. On Cyber Monday, customers will find more than 30 Deals of the Day and thousands of Lightning Deals across more than 30 categories including toys, electronics, fashion, beauty, kitchen, sporting goods, and more, in addition to incredible prices on Amazon Devices and products from small businesses and entrepreneurs, at amazon.com/cybermonday. Starting tomorrow, customers can also discover new deals every day throughout Cyber Monday Deals Week, and continue to choose from more than one hundred million items eligible for free shipping every day. This includes eligible orders of $25 or more on items shipped by Amazon, as well as from small businesses and entrepreneurs selling on Amazon. Last year on Cyber Monday, Amazon customers ordered more than 64 million items worldwide – a record-breaking 740 items per second, and customers worldwide purchased roughly 36 toys per second on mobile devices alone!

Customers can also shop Cyber Monday deals using the Amazon App, and set Watch a Deal alerts to ensure they never miss a deal. Voice Shoppers can shop select Cyber Monday deals even earlier, beginning at 5pm PT, Sunday, Nov. 26 – just ask Alexa.
Here’s a sneak peek at just some of the deals that will be available on Cyber Monday, while supplies last. And don’t forget– customers can easily give back to their favorite charity while shopping through smile.amazon.com.

Tens of Thousands of Deals from Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs: Customers can shop from tens of thousands of deals from small businesses, including deals from startups and entrepreneurs in the Amazon Launchpad and Amazon Exclusives programs, as well as Artisans selling on Amazon Handmade:

Save 20% on select items from Artisans on Amazon Handmade

Save more than 40% on AncestryDNA Genetic Testing Kit

Save more than 35% on Tea Forte Premium Teas and Accessories

Save 45% on Mission VaporActive Alpha Athletic Apparel

Save 30% on Anova Bluetooth Sous Vide

Save $30 on Anki Cozmo

Save 20% on Star Wars Droid Inventor Kit

Save 25% on Rocketbook Wave Smart Notebook - Executive

Buy one photo book or calendar with Amazon Prints and get two free: Beginning Nov. 26 for a limited time, customers can buy one photo book or calendar, and get two items in the same category of equal or lesser value for free. Design a high-quality, custom calendar to stay connected with loved ones all year long. Calendars can be personalized with photos of family and friends, colorful backgrounds, text, and embellishments for a unique and easy to create gift, plus free delivery with Prime. Go to www.amazon.com/prints to learn more.IMDbPro Prime Exclusive Annual Membership: Beginning Nov. 25 for a limited time, Amazon Prime members can save 59% on an annual IMDbPro membership, the leading resource for the entertainment industry. Stay connected with contact details for over 300,000 industry professionals and companies, access profile pages for more than four million people and cast and crew listings for more than two million titles, and track over 25,000 in-development and production titles not available on IMDb. Go to www.imdbpro.com to learn more.New Ways to Shop

Voice Shop to Get Early Access to Deals: Customers who voice shop with Alexa will get an exclusive shopping window several hours earlier than the general public with access to some of the best deals starting at 5pm PT, Sunday, Nov. 26. Available on the Amazon Echo, Echo Plus, Echo Dot, and Amazon Tap, as well as screened devices such as the all-new Amazon Fire TV, all-new Fire HD 10 Tablet, Echo Show, and soon to be released Echo Spot, it’s as simple as asking Alexa. Customers can voice shop with Alexa for tens of millions of Prime-eligible items every day of the year. Changed your mind? No problem, any physical product purchased with your voice is eligible for free returns. Customers must be Prime members with default payment and shipping information. To learn more, visit amazon.com/voiceshopping.

Amazon Books: Whether customers want to discover a new book for the holidays, test drive a device, or purchase Amazon.com Gift Cards, Amazon Books offers gifts for everyone. As an extension of Amazon.com, Amazon Books offers many of the same great online deals, including some of the best deals of the year in celebration of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Beginning on Black Friday through Nov. 27, Amazon Books customers will get a $10 credit on Amazon.com when they spend $30 or more on books in-store, and beginning on Giving Tuesday, Nov. 28, through Dec. 24, Amazon Books will offer customers the ability to purchase a new book to be donated to a local literary charity supporting children in need. Customers can also browse in-store features like Great Books to Give, Seasonal Readings, Most-Wished-For Children’s Books on Amazon.com, Hidden Gem Gifts, customer favorites from Amazon’s Holiday Toy List and Amazon’s Electronics Gift Guide, as well as features like Page Turners: Books Kindle Readers Finish in 3 Days or Less, Local Bestsellers, and 100 books to read in a lifetime. Amazon Books is located in Seattle, Bellevue (Wash.), New York City (on 34th St and at Columbus Circle), Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, Chicago, Walnut Creek, Boston (Dedham and Lynnfield), Portland, and Paramus (N.J.).

Treasure Truck: Available in 25 select cities, Treasure Truck is a new way for customers to shop this holiday season. Customers can opt-in to receive notifications from the Amazon App for special must-have offers from Treasure Truck, order the item, and pick-up at the truck all season long. Each time the truck rolls, one hand-picked offer will be available including gifts for the adventurer, foodie, host, kids, and techie, as well as delicious seasonal food items, and more. Look for the truck at various locations this holiday season.

Amazon.com in Spanish: Customers can shop, browse, and search for deals across 30 categories in Spanish. Customers can update their language settings in their Amazon App, as well as visit Amazon.com and click the ‘globe’ button – located in the navigation bar at the top of their Amazon home screen – to set and begin shopping in their preferred language. Preferred language settings will be saved for future site visits under ‘Your account’ settings.

Fast Shipping, Deals, and More with Prime: Prime is designed to make your life better every day including the convenience of fast, free shipping and great entertainment. Prime members can shop thousands of Lightning Deals with 30-minute early access and, with the Amazon Prime credit card, members will earn even bigger rewards this holiday season. Members in more than 5,000 cities and towns can also enjoy Free Two-Day Shipping with Amazon Prime, as well as Prime FREE One-Day Shipping and Prime FREE Same-Day Delivery on more than one million items in orders of $35 or more. And, with Prime Now, Prime Members in more than 30 U.S. cities can benefit from one-and two-hour delivery. In addition, Prime members in 37 cities and surrounding areas across the U.S. now have access to Amazon Key, the new service that radically improves the convenience of receiving deliveries. Amazon Key allows Prime members to have eligible packages securely delivered inside their homes without having to be there.

Disclaimer: Kevin Surbaugh was a shareholder of WholeFoods before Amazon cashed him out in its purchase of the grocery chain.

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Washington, D.C.— Kiplinger.com has revealed its annual list of the most and least tax-friendly states for retirees. Kiplinger’s 2017 Retiree Tax Map—available at Kiplinger.com/links/retireetaxmap—reveals senior tax breaks across all 50 states, and compares taxes on income (including Social Security benefits, pensions and other forms of retirement income), property, everyday purchases and estates.

“Where you live in retirement matters just as much to your tax bill as what you have,” says Sandra Block, Senior Editor, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. “Retirees and near-retirees can use Kiplinger’s Retiree Tax Map to plan ahead and determine which locations fit best based on their sources of income, spending habits and value of their estate.”

The 10 Most Tax-Friendly States for Retirees:

1.Wyoming

2.Alaska

3.South Dakota

4.Mississippi

5.Florida

6.Pennsylvania

7.Nevada

8.New Hampshire

9.Kentucky

10. Georgia

The 10 Least Tax-Friendly

States for Retirees:

1.Minnesota

2.Connecticut

3.Kansas

4.Vermont

5.Nebraska

6.New Mexico

7.Utah

8.Maryland

9.Indiana

10.Wisconsin

The Retiree Tax Map is a sister project to Kiplinger’s annual Tax Map—which outlines each state’s income taxes, sales taxes, gas taxes, “sin” taxes (for products such as alcohol and tobacco) and other tax rules and exemptions.

Business WireKANSAS CITY, Mo. & TOPEKA, Kan.-- Westar Energy, Inc. (NYSE: WR) and Great Plains Energy Incorporated (NYSE: GXP), the parent company of Kansas City Power & Light (“KCP&L”), today announced at their respective shareholder meetings that shareholders overwhelmingly approved the proposals necessary for the merger between the two companies. More than 90 percent of the shares voted at each company approved the transaction.
“We are excited about today’s approval from shareholders of both Great Plains Energy and Westar Energy. This vote indicates that both companies’ shareholders believe in our combined ability to create a stronger regional energy provider, positioned to better serve all of our customers,” said Terry Bassham, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Great Plains Energy and KCP&L. “This new combined company will ensure we keep ownership of our utility assets in our region to grow local economies.”
“Customers and shareholders will benefit by combining Westar Energy and Great Plains Energy into a strong Midwest utility,” said Mark Ruelle, president and chief executive officer of Westar Energy. “Our geography and history of partnership position us to bring efficiencies and savings by joining our operations. We continue to make progress toward completing the transaction in the first half of 2018.”
Westar Energy and Great Plains Energy announced a revised transaction in July 2017 after the Kansas Corporation Commission denied the companies’ original request to combine in April. This revised agreement involves no transaction debt, no exchange of cash, and is a stock-for-stock merger of equals, creating a company with a combined equity value of approximately $15 billion.
The merger is expected to help maintain reliable, low-cost energy for the company’s 1 million Kansas customers and nearly 600,000 customers in Missouri. Additionally, with one of the largest renewable energy portfolios in the nation, the new combined company will be a clean energy leader, supplying nearly half of its retail sales from emissions-free electricity.

Monday, November 20, 2017

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SAN DIEGO, CA-- Youngevity International, Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI), a leading omni-direct lifestyle company, today reported financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2017.
Steve Wallach, CEO and Co-Founder of Youngevity, stated, "I am pleased to see the performance of our international markets contribute to the top line of our direct selling business. We have invested heavily in establishing a global footprint and we believe that we will begin to enjoy returns on these significant investments in the coming quarters. I am equally pleased to see the revenue growth taking place in our Coffee Division, especially the sales success taking place with our Café La Rica™ Brand. We expect the strength of this brand has significant potential to bring shareholder value."
Youngevity President and CFO Dave Briskie stated, "We invested heavily in creating a platform that is capable of creating top line revenue growth throughout a number of verticals and in various markets across the globe. We anticipate that we will be able to leverage our platform and drive top line growth. With that said, as we complete 2017 and move through 2018 we will focus on our plans to improve our profitability, expand our liquidity, and strengthen our balance sheet."THIRD QUARTER 2017 FINANCIAL RESULTS
For the three months ended September 30, 2017, our revenue increased 1.9% to $44,395,000 as compared to $43,562,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2016. During the three months ended September 30, 2017, we derived approximately 85% of our revenue from our direct sales and approximately 15% of our revenue from our commercial coffee sales. Direct selling segment revenues decreased by $622,000 or 1.6% to $37,954,000 as compared to $38,576,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2016. Commercial coffee segment revenues increased by $1,455,000 or 29.2% to $6,441,000 in the current quarter as compared to $4,986,000 for the same period last year. This increase was primarily attributed to increased revenues in our green coffee business.
For the three months ended September 30, 2017, gross profit decreased approximately 2.3% to $25,764,000 as compared to $26,368,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2016. Overall gross profit as a percentage of revenues decreased to 58.0%, compared to 60.5% in the same period last year.
For the three months ended September 30, 2017, our operating expenses increased approximately 6.9% to $27,581,000 as compared to $25,792,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2016.
A breakdown of operating expenses is as follows: Distributor compensation decreased 3.9% to $17,391,000 from $18,101,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2016. This decrease was primarily attributable to the decrease in direct selling revenues and lower commissions paid on discounted items. Sales and marketing expense increased 28.1% to $4,074,000 from $3,181,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2016 primarily due to expenses related to the Company's twentieth anniversary convention held in Dallas, Texas in August 2017 and increase in wages and related benefits. General and administrative expense increased 35.6% to $6,116,000 from $4,510,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2016 primarily due to increases in costs related to legal fees, computer and internet related costs, international expansion, investor relations, wages and related benefits, amortization and stock based compensation costs.
For the three months ended September 30, 2017, total other expense decreased by $36,000 to $541,000 as compared to other expense of $577,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2016. Total other expense includes net interest expense, the change in the fair value of warrant derivative and extinguishment loss on debt.
For the three months ended September 30, 2017, the Company reported a net loss of $1,068,000 as compared to net income of $67,000 for the same period last year.Adjusted EBITDA
EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) as adjusted to remove the effect of stock based compensation expense, the change in the fair value of the warrant derivative and extinguishment loss on debt or "Adjusted EBITDA," decreased to a negative $359,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $1,620,000 for the same period in 2016.Fiscal 2017 Nine Months Results
For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, our revenues increased 0.3% to $124,655,000 as compared to $124,264,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, we derived approximately 86% of our revenue from our direct sales and approximately 14% of our revenue from our commercial coffee sales. Direct selling segment revenues decreased by $3,659,000 or 3.3% to $106,734,000 as compared to $110,393,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Commercial coffee segment revenues increased by $4,050,000 or 29.2% to $17,921,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to $13,871,000 for the same period last year. This increase was primarily attributed to increased revenues in our green coffee business and coffee roasting business.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, gross profit decreased approximately 4.6% to $71,732,000 as compared to $75,162,000 for the same period last year. Overall gross profit as a percentage of revenues decreased to 57.5%, compared to 60.5% in the same period last year. The decrease was primarily due to increased social selling discounts offered in the current year in the direct selling segment and additional costs incurred due to increased direct labor costs, repairs and maintenance, and depreciation expense in the commercial coffee segment.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, our operating expenses increased approximately 6.6% to $76,625,000 as compared to $71,899,000 for the same period last year, primarily due to increases in convention and distributor events costs, legal fees, increased wages and related benefits and increased marketing expenses.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, total other expense increased by $1,123,000 to $3,727,000 as compared to $2,604,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Total other expense includes net interest expense, the change in the fair value of warrant derivative and extinguishment loss on debt.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company reported a net loss of $5,857,000 as compared to net income of $109,000 for the same period last year.Adjusted EBITDA
EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) as adjusted to remove the effect of stock based compensation expense, the change in the fair value of the warrant derivative and extinguishment loss on debt or "Adjusted EBITDA," decreased to a negative $851,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $6,420,000 for the same period last year.Conference Call Information

Management will host a conference call today at 4:15 PM Eastern Standard Time (1:15 PM Pacific Standard Time), to discuss the Company's third quarter financial results, for the quarter ended September 30, 2017. Investors can access the conference call by dialing: 877-388-7629. No access code is needed to join the call. It is advised that you dial-in at least five minutes prior to the call.

The conference call will be recorded and available for replay shortly after the conclusion of the call. An archived replay of the call will be available for approximately 6 months in the Investor Relations section of Youngevity International's website: http://ygyi.com/calls.php.

Non-GAAP Financial Measure - Adjusted EBITDA

This news release includes information on Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure as defined by SEC Regulation G.

Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA, when viewed with our results under GAAP and the accompanying reconciliations, provides useful information about our period-over-period growth. Adjusted EBITDA is presented because management believes it provides additional information with respect to the performance of our fundamental business activities and is also frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of comparable companies. We also rely on Adjusted EBITDA as a primary measure to review and assess the operating performance of our Company and our management team.

Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. We calculate adjusted EBITDA by taking net income, and adding back the expenses related to interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock based compensation expense, loss on extinguishment of debt and change in the fair value of the warrant derivative, as each of those elements are calculated in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as a substitute for net income (loss) (as determined in accordance with GAAP) for the purpose of analyzing our operating performance or financial position, as Adjusted EBITDA is not defined by GAAP. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net loss is provided in the tables at the end of this press release.

Safe Harbor Statement

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "should," "potential," "continue," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," and similar expressions, and includes statements regarding the expected growth in international markets in the coming quarters providing a return on our significant investments in establishing a global footprint, the strength of the Café La Rica Brand having significant potential to bring shareholder value, and leveraging our platform to drive top line growth, our plans to improve our profitability, expand our liquidity, and strengthen our balance sheet. These forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations and assumptions from those set forth or implied by any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among others, our ability to continue our international growth, our ability to expand our sales of the Café La Rica™ coffee, our ability to leverage our platform to drive top line growth, our ability to improve our profitability, expand our liquidity, and strengthen our balance sheet, our ability to continue to maintain compliance with the NASDAQ requirements, the acceptance of the omni-direct approach by our customers, our ability to expand our distribution, our ability to add additional products (whether developed internally or through acquisitions), our ability to continue our financial performance, and the other factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2016 and our subsequent filings with the SEC, including subsequent periodic reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release on account of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

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